Transfer system for heavy metal plates



. April 10, 1928.

- C. L. HUSTON wmmsmn SYSTEM FOR HEAVY METAL PL'ATES Filed Feb. 2, 1923 10 Sheets-Sheet l fwml oz'afaziliufiz I W April 10,1928. 1,665,209-

c. L. ,HUSTON TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR HEAVY METAL PLATES Filed Feb. 2, 1923 V 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z6. rwmbmr az/coilf/uaz on.

April 1 0, 1928. 1,6652% (2. L. HUSTON TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR HEAVY METAL PLATES Filed Feb. ,2, 1923 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 A rfi 10, 1928.

C. L. HUSTON TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR HEAVY METAL PLATES Filed Feb. 2, 1925 1C Sheets-Sheet 4 April lo, 1928..

C. L. HUSTON TRANSFER SYSTEM Fok HEAVY METAL PLATE S l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 2 1923 April 10, 1928.

. 1,665,209 c. L. HUSTON" TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR HEAVY METAL PLATES Filed Feb. 2. 192s 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 April 10, 1928. 1,665,209

c. L. HUSTON TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR HEAVY METAL PLATES Filed Feb. 2, 1923 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 April 10, 1928.

1,665,209 c. L. HUST ON- TRANSFER. SYSTEM FOR HEAVY METAL PLATES 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Feb. 2, 1923 l0 sheets sheet 9 C. L. HUSTON TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR HEAVY METAL PLATES Fllec= Feb 2 1923 April 10, 1928.

Aprfi 10, 1928.

' Filed Feb. 2, 1925 lmsheets sheet' 1o MMV Patented Apr. 19258,

' u if s ST CHARLES nfnus'ron', or conrnsvnms, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRANSFER SYSTEM r013, HEAVY METAL snares,

Application filed February 2, 1928. Serial No. $13,563. if

My invention relates to systems of interacting carriers by which heavy plate material may be shifted and transferred for convenient operation upon it by shears or other 6 tools. v

My main purpose is to present a complete system of handling heavy metal plates, including the transfer of the plates from a transfer table to a carrier and delivery by it In to a pair of opposed shears, not only maintaining the plates in alignment and definite relationship of the angles between the ends and the sides of the plates, but also progressively feeding them for successive operations of guillotine shears or other heavy duty tools concurrently upon opposite sides of the plates.

Also for adjusting the distances between the shearing planes and for relieving the plates from binding of the shear-knives.

In this system I have provided cooperat-' 7 ing feed tables which may extend in the' 7 same direction or at an angle to each other for delivery by the one table and transfer by the other and structure for maintaining the alignment of the parts and for intermittent 'ly progressingthe platesbetween the operations.

I reduce the number of settings required, eliminate the hand labor and much of the care required in setting the plate and avoid the loss oftime previously lost in clamping,-

thus securing great rapidity inwork.

The maintenance of'the alignment autoby step feeding and cutting also help to in-' crease the speed; Cutting upon both sides at the same time secures uniformity, and.adjustability of the shears toward and from each other makes my" invention suitable for all widthsof plate.

I also provide auxiliary movements and f devices so asto-carry-out the successive cuts and operations necessary to thedesired ob- 4e ject in'a mechanical, practical manner for rapid production of steel plates by avoiding thenecessity forturning the plates aroundl as is usually done for shearing successively the opposite sides-of the plate with the ac companying repeated adjustment and danger of shifting or creeping from itsposition dnr ing the process of shearing. v

My invention thus not only obviates troumatically by mechanical means and the step blesome and tedious hand work but more reliably secures parallel, stra ght and ac-' curately sheared product, with definite relative angles between the endsand sides 0btaining a better result at a'more rapid rate and lower cost. Moreover it fits 1n with modern methods of rapid production already 00 principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a top plan view, largely diagrammatic, showing the preferred form of my invention.

Figure 2' is an enlargedtop plan view differing slightly in detail ,of the elements shown but otherwise corresponding to Fig-' 75.

ure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of a portion of the structure seen in'Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a pair of shears suitable for'carrying out my inso vention. I

Figure dis a diagrammatic view showing hydraulic means ofsynchronization- Figure 6 is a section ofone'of the carrier elements shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 7. is a top plan view ofthe fine adjustment used. 4 v r I Figure 8' is a side elevation, partly sectioned,,of'Figure 7. v 3 y -Figure 9 is a top plan view of an alterna: 90 tive form ofmagnetic drag which may be nsed. h r f Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in-longitudinal section of the structure seen in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary end elevation of'the structure of Figures 9 and 10. 1 Figures 12', 13, 14, 15,: 16, 17, 1s and 1 9 are top plan views intended to be largely d1- agrammatic illustrating some of the differwe cut arrangements of tables and cooperating structures with which my invention may be used. v;

Figures 20 and 21 are elevations largely diagrammatic of the form seen in Figure 18. m5 2 Figures 22' and 23 are elevations lar ely diagrammatic showing an overhead" ag conveyor. In thefdrawings similar numerals: 111(11- catelike parts. i

V in w My invention is intended to cooperate with any table construction and layout, of which I have shown diagrammatically in 'Fi ig plres 1-2 and 12-19 various different types. ese

represent a few only. among the many 1nstallations to which my invention ma be applied. I have given greater detail in -i ures 1, 2 and 3 than in the other figures.

In Figures 1-3 roller table feeds the plates from the. mill to a cut-off shear 11. at which one end, or, if necessary, both ends of the plate may be cut. From this shear the plate passes to the shear table 12 by which it may be fed lengthwise by rollers 13 and 14-0perating in unison to a second cut-0E shear 11 if shear 11 has been used to cut one end only. In either event the plate may be turned in a horizontal plane by operation of the two sets of reve'rsely placed rollers 13 and 14 in opposite directions. The plate is subsequently transferred from this shear .table to the left in'the figure by cooperating transfer tables 17 and 18.

In Figures 1-3 the table 17 is made up of a number of roller-supporting fixed sections 19,19", 19*, 19 ,19 and table 18 comprises .a corresponding number of rocking sections 20, 20', 20 20 ,20; here shown as five in number, so as to transfer the plate to operating mech or to a point of further distribution. t e

The rollers of-the fixed sections are suit ably' driven .by mechanism not shown- The sections 20-20 are adapted to tilt about a common shaft 21 which is located near the right hand end of the sections. Their roll- -ei's are driven by a motor 22 through suitable gearing shown including gears 23 at the motor and gears 24, 24' and'25, 25' upon parallel shafts 26, 21. The gear 26 tbrough two connected idlers '27, 27 drives intermeshing gears 28 upon and between the transfer rollers .29. As thus described the transfer rollers are efiective to move the plate in either, direction, intended to be to ward the left 'in Figures 1 and 2. mechanism so'far described is old. The'transfer table is tilted by thrust rods 30, one for each section, pivotally connected tothe section at onecnd andwith a beam 31 at the other.. The beam is common to the lifting mechanism for all of the sections and is lifted by the pit of a hydraulic cylinder 32located at an intermediate point with reisectto'the sections. I with theart I have shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 a part only of the transfer table, which [may comprise as man sections or sets of sections as maybe tended.

. At an v r of thecam 31, transverse beams 33 are tion served by beam 31. These desired for the duty insuitable along the length located, preferably one at each end of a secrest upon and turn piers 34. They carry beams 35 at a distance from their pivotal points selected with a view to getting the desired amount of lift for rollers 36 desirably located not further apart-than one for each section of the transfer table, Beneath the points at which these rollers 36 -are to be located bearings37 are formed to which arepivoted thrust rods 38 connected at their upper ends at 39 to heads 40 which slide in guides 41 and carry the rollers 36 at their upper ends the lifting ofthe left hand end of the trans- 'fer table will not liftits rollers alone but will lift other rollers spaced from the end with the purpose and effect that of the transfer table to any predetermined extent.

The

guidesdl arefornied the upper V faces of roller-supporting frames'parallel-I- ing-guide channels43. These latter lieapproximatelyin line beneath'th'e left hand end of the transfer table and, in the 1 form shown, are cutaway to allow the ends ofthe transfer table position shown.

The fixed and fer table are well suited to supply the means sections to" drop to the sections of the trans- V of transfer from roller tables "out of line with the shear or other tool tobe served. .Though part of themechanism'described above is my invention, in its broadest aspects the invention is independent of the character of transfer 'means and-even of ,the need 7 or existence of such transfer means (as seen in Figures 14 and 15); and the transfer mechanism seen in Figures 12 an'd'13, as well 1 as any transfer mechanism claimed by me in conjunction with my broader invention may be the same or difierent from that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. It is my intention to claim the broader. subjectmatter, independently of whether the roller table from the 5 mill and the shear or other heav'y duty mechanism to be served bein line or not, and, if not in line, independently 'of whether they be parallel'or not.

The roller-supporting frames extend at an I angle -here at" a right ang1e-to the transfer table where one is used, but may, as seen in' F 14 and 15 be directly in line with the roller (feed) table. "These frames are intended to support plates by their rollers while the plates are being conveyed to a guillotine shear or other heavy duty (usually but not try hydraulic) mechanism for operations uponthe sides of the 'plats:

As -77 greatest ability of my invention is secured in feeding and the plates for concurrent shearing ,operati site sides: of though part of the advantage may even when one. side only 0f the pl ll iis operated upon or when;

other heavy duty.

0115 upon oppo- 6 guiding support to a ar ier grip 'or clutchmental to shears.

. The frames extend to any distance desired and may serve a plurality of tools. In Fig ure 1 they are shown as broken away near t e middle of the view and near the farther end to indicate that in' the omitted portions any other desired mechanism may be applied to feed into or receive froma carrier, hereinafter described, with which the roller frames are intended to cooperate, or to operate upon the plates carried. The frames are shown as passing through between'guillotine shears 44, 45 which are oppositely placed,

facing eachother and are intended to be opposite counterparts except that both cut progressively in the same direction with respect to the observer. Both are adjustable toward and from each other bymeans of screws 46 which are connected 'to turn together so' that the knives are, automatically parallel and at the same time the cutting planes are equally distanced from the sides of the roller.-supporting guide channels or frames.

I have preferred to show. the guillotine shears as hydraulic, As shown, their pairs .tion broadly rather than specifically and there are many ways by which the functions of the shears may be erformed, of necessity I haverestrictedmy i lustration of them and show in diagrammatic and perspective one shear and two means of synchronizing the movement within the shear only. Without intending to restrict to hydraulic operation I would refer to my applications copending herewith for simultaneous intensifier feed for separate shears, Ser. No. 576,999, and

- plates Ser. No. 576,998, both filed July acing shears for cutting heavy metal 1922, as giving further detail and other means of synchronizing the form preferred by me when hydraulic-pressure is used.

The frames carry rollers 53 and 54 which support the plate freely after it has been rested upon them by depression ofthe transfor table.

Between the frames is located a carrier guide 55 of general U'section whose base 56 rests upon the same beams 57 as afford support to the frame members.

The upper part of the guide member is flanged at 58 on each side to give lateral 59, traveling upon the guiding surface 60 and dragged in either direction by the cables 61, of which one cable is attached to an ear upon one grip or clutch and the others pass through it to serve other grips or clutches.

The cables 61 pass from the clutch direct or about one of idlers 62, to one of tension take-up idlers 63, thence along the bottom ofthe guide channel over one of the idlers 64, or 66, a different one for each independent grip or clutch member, to and about a motor-driven drum'67, about idlers 64, 65"or 66, as the case may be, about one of the idlers 63 and back to the corresponding one of the several grips or clutches so that each grip or-clutch will be capable of separate operation in either direction .by a distinct cable and drum. I

The effective connecting means by which the grips or clutches engage the platesto hold or drag them, selected for illustration here, iselectromagnetic and two forms of electromagnets are illustrated from among the many by which this feature might be shown. They are illustrative only, and the broader features of my invention are independent of the character of the grips or clutches as well as of the electromagnetic principle upon which they operate, though the electromagnetic form offers many advantages not possessed by other forms.

I will describe. the form shown in Fig ures 1-3 and 6-8 first The electromagnets 68 are free to raise and lower with the casing of the grips or clutches but are restrained (by the top of the casing through which they pass) against longitudinal movement with respect to the caslng. The electro-magnets are connected selectively by trolley arms 69 with different conductors, 70, where it is desirable to control their energization separately; otherwise with a common conductor only, so that the;

energization of these conductors may be 'utilized to cause the magnets to engage with the plates or disengage from them, whether the casings are being moved along the guides or not. When the electro-magnets are energized and are covered by a plate they will engage the plate to drag it or hold it.

plates while holding one or more others. 3

The movement of the plates provides for getting the next plate ready while another plate is being operated upon or transferred from operating position, after it has been operated upon. ment of drags maybe used and'a plurahty ofdr gs may e used up n a single plate to Any number or arran 'eable for either thedrag conveyor use (with maintain the plate in alignment. and to give additional strength of grip orhold for the movement of, the plate.

- "In conjunction with my apparatus shown I have illustrated a fine adjustment, (also preferably electromagnetic in its gripping ferent figures in sets of two or three devices action) for shifting the plates laterally,

movement of the difl'erent devices shown in the same direction at the same time,or -for' aligning a plate, in the form of screw-operated feeds. These are grouped in the dif- The fine-adjustment devices ip the plates by electro-magnetic cores w 'ch may correspond generally to the ones already described asforming part of the drag feed,

" but require much shorter extent of move- 'ment and need not rely upon trolley engage- 'ment to secure their magnetizing current,

obtaining it from any suitablesou'rce'by means of conductors 71. The magnetic cores are shown at 72' and move between guides 73. They are provided with rigid nuts 74 to'receive threaded shafts 75 rotated through gearing at 76, 77 from motors 78. j As the ma ets formin the sma be ener 7 ed gn g y a thesidesofthenuts.

devices are separate and distinct, the electroto cause them to engage with a plate an may befed in the same direction to adjust the plate either way in its entirety orzmay be used separately or together to' turnand adjust the plate in a horizontal plane. .One

- of them may hold the plate, acting as' a pivot about which the plate is turned by another. Like the drag-conveyor magnets casings 68' the magnet grips lie below the lower level of the plates when not energizedand lift to engaging contact when energized. Elsewhere, however, I show clutch devices operating above the plates. 1

In Figures 9,10 and 11 I have shown another -form of the cables of which it is illustrated) or with any fine adjustment, including such trans v lating devices as are seen in Figures 7 and 8.

It can tlius be used either to drag or'to adjust and align the plates.

are rigid withthe electromagnet cores 68 Their are protected and held in place by cover plates 68*. .The cas ings are tapered at the edges and project .at front and back where they are bored to receive tubular pro ections 79 upon frames-79' to which the cables 61 or the fine adjustment feedingdevicesare applied. The

electromagnetic grip, suit-' his form, Figures 9-11, the magnet frames, are recessed to receive solenoid wind- These extensions are slotted to permit ver- ,ings 80 for solenoidal armatures 80 whose upper ends 80 are oi pin form' and" fit "the interiors of the tubular extensions.

tical movement of cross bars 81 carried by I the pins, operating to lift the casings when the solenoids are energized and to permit.

them to lower when the solenoids are de-'" energized. The electrical connections'shown are such asto energize the solenoids and the with the statement, however, that these.

shears. are" more completely described and claimed in the above noted application for facing shears for cutting heavy metal plates.

The guide plates 82 provide ways upon or in which the'bases 83, 83 of the shears are adapted to travel when the right-andleft-hand screws 84 are rotated within the nuts 85, 85 by means ofany source of power these or gearing connection with gears upon screws: Slack can be taken up between the nuts and the screws by moving one of the 'nuts toward the other and fine adjustment can be made by moving both of the nuts in the same direction with respect to the base of either shear. screws 86 in flanges 87 and bearing against is done by set.

The power selected for the illustration of the guillotine shears is hydraulic and'the' two shears are duplicates in all respects ex-' cept that, as set, they cut progressively in the sa'medirection. They will therefore bedescribed in similar language with the use ruptedly notwithstandingthe movement of the shears. V

The lower beams are shown at 89 support ing fixed knives 90 andangularly placed scrap cutting knives 91 connected therewith.

The upper ormovable-beams 92 carry movable knives 93. These are connected with cooperating 'movable scrap cutting knives which do not show in view. The movable beams are hung by pivotally connected links 94 from the iorward ends of rocker arms 95 which are rigid with a pivot shaft- 96. The rocker arms are connected with the pistons of the operating cylinders bymeans of '91: .This secures synchromsln i i the twosides of each shear.

' The movable beamsare returned-to their I positions tyne pull-back cylinders 98-whbse .plungers 99 are connected by cross beams 100 7 against the housings 103butare set off from the housings so as to tend'to-fa'll toward them by gravity'and are separated from them by wedges 104 pivotally connected to levers 105. These leverscenter at 106 and are pivoted at their opposite ends to rods 107. The rods' are connected at theirjlower ends by cranks 108 with shafts 109 supported in bearings in the housings or frames. These are adapted to be carried by mechanism not here shown but described in detail in the application referred to abovevfor facing shears for cutting heavy metal. plates. There are two rods and two pairs of wedges and connections, one at each side'of each pair of shears.

By theseme'ans the wedges may be forced downwardly tobring the knives into the cut- 'ting planes and are retained in this position as guides for the beams during the cutting, after which the wedges are withdrawn and the beams fall back by gravity, withdrawing the knives from the cutting planes for the upward stroke. This is of special importance where cutting takes place on both sides of a plate and where for this reason the plate is not free to yield to relieve the friction be tween it and the upper knives on the upward stroke of the latter.

The upper surface of each lower beam is lowered by crank arms 111, one for each shear, upon one ofthe same shafts 109 used for operating the wedges. The crank arms connect through thrust strips 112 connected at their upper ends by one end each of these bell cranks to the arms 115 of bell cranks 116.

located in the lower beams. The other arms 117 of the bell cranks carry the rollers 110.

As fully explained in the applications bove referred to, the'operation of these parts is so. timed that the rollers 110 are lowered prior to the cutting and are lifted after the cutting operation and before the upward stroke of the movable knives. 'The upper beams are at the same time allowed to fall away from v the cutting planes.

.be open and the other closed in each set when by-pass valve 119 is open. When by-pass valve 119 is closed both of the valves 119 and 119 in each set will be open.

In operation of the construction thus far described, the plate is passed from the mill to the shears which trim the ends, and when the ends have been trimmed it is passed by transfer tables to the drag conveyor.- Its position is adjusted nicely with respectto this conveyor by the fine adjusting devices, both to place it centrally and to give it perfect alignment so that the drag conveyor will carry it to the shears or other tools in exact alignment for the first operation and will control its position and advancement with respect to the tools-by successive movements.

The transfer tables by their tilting movement and by their rollers moving in planes laterally to the drag conveyor facilitate fine adjustment of the position of the plate and alignment of the plate, both because,they

make it possible to support the plate above the drag conveyor while this is being done and because the direction of movement of their rollers greatly reduces the strain required to move the plate.

When the plate has been placed in. approximate position the fine adjustment is given by the screw-operated electromagnetic grips 59 or 59. During this lateral shifting or turning the plate is preferably supported above the rollers of the drag conveyor (which rotate in planes parallel to its length) upon transversely rotating rollers, such as those of a transverse table or independent plunger-supported rollers, such as 36'.

The electromagnets can be used either as stationary pivots about which the plate is turned or can be moved in either direction to give rotation in the planes ofthe plate or bodily movement.

As soon as the fine adjustment and alignment have been completed, the plate is lowered upon the rollers preferably of the drag, conveyor, whose electromagnetic grips can be set against the plate before it is lowered or afterward as preferred.

It will usually be desirable to engage the plate by separate grips near its ends in order to maintain the alignment reliably.

The plate is then fed to the shear or other tool and as it approaches the shear it rises upon the shear rollers 110, lifted to protect the knives, without releasing the electromagnetic holds of the grips, which are 'so constructed as to lift with the plate and maintain their hold even when the rollers 110 of the shear are in raised position. The grips continue to maintain their holds during the shearing operation, ready for subsequent transfer without new positioning.

Prior to the operation of the shears the rollers 110 are lowered, resting the plate upon the lower shear knives, where the plate is held against side movement by the grips of the drag feed; After-the shear has operated and its movable knives have lifted to allow further movement of the plate, the

[rollers 110 are against lifted and the drag conveyor is operated to advance the plate ready for another cut, successive euttlng opations being .efiected concurrently upon op posite sides until the full length of the plate has been sheared. The same or other drag conveyor elements will then be available to advance the sheared plate tothe osition for another operation upon one or 0th 'of.1ts sides; such as a punching operat on, or to deliverit to leading tables or other destination. Where a tapered plate is'to be sheared,

for example, one shear only need be operated.

I have carried the operation through with one mechanism in order to avoid confusion and to complete the description of a preferred form before referringto other means by which much the same advantage can be secured, but have intended this preferred form to be suggestive only, mdicatmg one construction by which the desired functions can be carried out. Without any attempt at completeness I have shown a few of the modface tofface. The manipulating rollers 13,-

14' are shown in Figure 12 as lying on both sides of the pair of shearsand in Figure 13 as between the shears. The roller table 10 in Figure 13 is assisted by casters 10. Fine adjustments are shown in each and in each the plate is delivered to roller table 10 and carried by it to be weighed and finally for loading. The directions of motion of the plate are indicated in these figures, as in' the other figures by arrows.

V In'Figures 14 and 15 I; have shown the plates as feeding directly (i.l'e., without lateral movement) from the'mill through endcutting shears, a single shear 11 in Figure 14 and opposltely'facing shears 11' in Figure 15, to manipulating rollers 13', 14' and thence to a drag conveyor and a roller table- 10 Fine adjustments are shown on opposite sides ofthe rollers 13', 14' and also on opposite sides of the rollers 13', 14' and also on opposite sides of the drag conveyor to indicatethat adjustment may be made at either or bothof these points as occasion may re- 7 .quire. Rollers 36 in the drag conveyor and menace single rollers 36',- all capable of being lifted are provided, the latterlocated opposite-the rollers 13', 14. They facilitate lateral movement and also alignment.

In Figure 16. two laterally directed roller tables 17, 18 are provided between the roller table 10 and the drag conveyor, with an in-' termediate pair of end-cutting shears 44', 45 corresponding generally to shears 44, 45 and adapted to be set for predetermined end lengths. They cut concurrently, as do shears 44and 45. Fine adjustments are located adjacent the roller table 10 with a view to atcurate alignment 'of the plates for, operation upon-them by the end-cntting-to-siz'e shears. I contcmplateusing accurate transfer tables at 18 to carry the plates which have been trimmed to length over to the drag conveyor so as not to require resetting and enable them to be gripped by the drag conveyor in perfeet alignment and carried through the side cutting shears; exercising every care to secure the mechanical accuracy of the carriers or conveyors used, to maintain an alignment which has been secured whether the carriers or conveyors engage the plate beneath its surface-or, as in some of the later figures,

above its surface.

'It will be noted that the end cutting shears do not require scrap. cutting knives as they are intended to take the entire width at each end at one stroke.

In Figure 17 I have indicated a reversal of direction of movement "of the plate, to show that'tlns direction is not controlling, and have effected the transfer of the plate by an overhead crane having electromagnetic gripping 'devices' engaging the upper surfaces "of the. plate, cutting the sides of the plate first by successive strokes, concurrently on the two sides, maintaining the alignment by the crane and cutting the ends of the plate last.

Because of the differencein direction of feed, fine. adjusting devices for grips or clutches diagrammatically illustrated at 59 are lnterspersed between the rollers of table 10 to adjust and align the plate preliminarily to lts engagement by the drag conveyor clutches 59. These carry itythrough the shears 44, 45 and bringit in linebeneath the rails-111 of the overhead crane 112. The

crane is provided with a pair of gripping magnets 11? capable of independent or concurrent excitation and suspended by connections 114 .from shives-115 raised and lowered by suitable drum and :motor mechanism not shown by means of chains 116.-'- The gripping devices are intended also to be capable of independent or concurrent movement, both' vertically and along the length of the crane beam. The grips'f113 can thus be moved toward or from each other to accommodate difierent lengths-of plate so that the crane will pick up the plate from its positionon the drag conveyor, maintaining its alignment, and carry it bodily into position for shearing by the end-cutting-to-size shears 44, 45' where it is cut concurrently at the two ends and from which it is passed by roller tables 10 and 10" to weighing scales and loading devices. Obviously more than one'crane 112 will be used where the widths of plates to be handled give trouble by tilting when lifted bythe grips of a single crane.

In Figure 18 the construction shown is similar to that in Figure 17, but the finefeed grips lil) are located adjacent the roller tables 10 to provide for the opposite direction of plate movement from that of Figure 17 and preliminary shears 11' are provided to cut up a platetwhich has been rolled in multiple lengths) into approximately the lengths desired before .it reaches the end-cutting-tosize shears 14:, 45. In this case the overhead crane and grips take the plate which has been cut to length and carry it to the drag conveyor, maintaining its alignment until it has been engaged by the grips of the drag conveyor.

In Figure 19, overhead conveyor-shaving two directions of travel are used, the one for lateral movement of the plate and the other for longitudinal movement.

A shear 11 is provided where multiple lengths are rolled and the plate may be fed directly to the end-ci1tting-to-size shears 14', 15 or to the side of such shears as preferred. I at the side by roller table 10 and upon roller table 10 Fine adjusting 'andaligning clevices can be used either at this point 'or where the plate is deposited for shearing and I have shown them in both places. The crane 112 picks up the plate at the left, if it be delivered at the side and carries it to the end-cutting-to-size shears to be cut, or engages it after it has been placed, as the. case may be; and the crane preferably retains its hold upon the plate and hence retains alignment while the ends of the plateare being sheared.

The plate is then carried from the. end shearing position over to a position in lme longitudinally with the side cutting shears where it may be depositedfor engagement by the longitudinally movable cranes 112, of which any number may be used, though but two are shown. I show grips 59 in position between the rollers of roller table 10 for use where it is desired to maintain hold upon the plate during the shift from one crane support to the other, Ordinarily these grips 59 need notbe movable for adjustment or alignment but may be given such movement if desired. 1

I A roller table 10 transfers the cut plate In the figure the plate is deliveredmore than one gripping device each, according to the widths of plates to be handled, but preferably have two each in order to maintain the plate in horizontal position; and may retain their holds upon the plate during the progress of the plate through the side cutting shears to ensure and main tain alignment. Y

In order to secure accurate alignment of the two ends of the overhead crane the supporting wheels 117, 117' of the crane on op posite sides may be geared together if desired.

-1'u Figures 22 and 23 I show a different form of overhead gripping mechanism in which a beam 118 is supported so that its flanges 119 extend longitudinally with respect to the movement of the plate. \Vheels 120 of the carriages 121 ride upon the flanges 119., The carriages support a crane beam 122 from which are suspended grips 113' by chains 116, passing over drums 123 driven through worm and worm wheel connection from a common shaft 124 connected with a motor 125. Clutch mechanism may be interposed to raise or lower either grip independently.

It will thus be evident that all of the devices shown by me are capable of wide variation to accomplish the objects which I have outlined; and it is my purpose to cover herein such modifications and changes as will naturally occur to those skilled in the art in view of my disclosure herein and which come within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The method of handling and shearing a sheet of heavy plate using a conveyor and oppositely facing heavy duty vertical movable shears which consists in centering. and aligning the plate in position to be engaged by the conveyor, engagin and holding it by the conveyor at a plurality of points and feeding it between the'shears spaced to the desired distance to operate concurrently on both sides of the plate, operating upon the plate concurrently by the shears while the conveyor maintains its hold upon the plate to maintain alignment and successively advancing the plate by the conveyor and oper at-ing upon it by the shears.

2. The method of handling and operating upon a sheet oflieavy plate from a mill by a conveyor and reciprocating tools onoppo site sides thereof which consists in transferring theplate from the mill to the con veyor, aligning and centering the plate at the conveyor and before the conveyor is engaged with the Mataengaging and holding the plate by the conveyor and transferring it thereby to the tools so spaced as'to operate concurrently upon opposite sides of the lot) lU-i

plate, at. the same time maintaining its alignment, operating upon a portion of the two sides of the tools, lifting the plate w th respect to the tools while maintaining hold by the 'con- 1: ing and holding by the conveyor at a plurality of points, feeding the plate between Ithe shears spaced to the desired distance to operate concurrently on 1 both sides of the plate, operating upon the plate by the shears concurrently and successively advancing the plate by the conveyor and operating upon it by the shears. v

4. The method of handling by mechanism and shearing'heavy metal plate by shears 2 having reciprocating knives which consists in transferring'the' plate to a position above the lower knives of the shears so spaced as.

tooperate upon the plate concurrently upon opposite sides, lowering the plate upon,the

knives of the shears, operating upon the plate by the knives concurrently on both sides, lifting the ,plate free from the lower knives of the shears, advancing the plate into position-for a succeeding cut and lowering the plate and then cutting it by the of the plate into a position above the lower,

shears, while. maintaining the position of the'plate by the hold of the transfer mechanism. Y

5. The method of handling and shearing 40 a heavy metal plate by the use of a conveyor and facing shears having reciprocating knives which consists in transferring the plate by the conveyor while maintaining hold upon the plate with vertical movement knives of the oppositely facing shears, lowering'the' plate upon the knives-cutting the plate concurrently upon opposite sides, .concurrently cutting off the scrap, shifting the Q movable upper knives of; the shears away from the plate and lifting them, lifting the .plate to a position free from the lower shear knives. while maintaining the conveyor hold, advancing the plate into position. fora suc-' t5 ceeding cut, lowering the plate upon the lower shear knives and repeating the operation. Q f q 6. The method of handling and shearing a sheet of heavy plate by'the use of a con- 7 so veyor, facing shears having reciprocating knives and lifting-rollers w ich consists in transferring the plate by a conveyor while maintaining hold upon the plate with vertical movement of the plate into a position above 1 05 the lower knives of the oppositely facing plate concurrently by the .shears, lowering the plate upon the shears,

the plate concurrently upon oppo cuttin site si es; concurrent] cutting off thescrap,

lfiftin the plate by t erollers to a position ree plate into position for a succeeding cut, lowfrom the shear knives, advancing the ering the plate upon the shear knives and repeating tie operation.' a

' 7. The method 'of handling from a mill and shearing a heavy metal plate, by facing shears having reciprocating knives, which consists in. feeding said plate from ,the mill, aligning'the plate with respect-to the cutting planes of the shear knives, feeding the plate between the shears placed so as to face oppositely and spaced to the desired distance to cut on both sides of the plate, operatingthe shears synchronously to take cuts concurrently upon opposite sides of the plate,

advancing the plate whilemaintaining its.

alignment and repeating the shearing opera} tion. v

'8. The method of'handling from a mill.

and shearing a sheet of heavy plate by facing shears having reciprocating knives, which consists in feeding said platefrom the mill, alignlng it with respect to thecutting planes of the shear knives, feeding it between the facing shears spaced to the desired distance to cut on both sides of the plate, operating "the, shears synchronously to take cuts concurrently upon opposite sides of the plate and at the end of the. cutcutting 013? the scrap, advancing the plate while maintaining the alignment and subsequentlyrepeat- .ing the shearing operation.

9. The method of handling heavy. plate from a transfer table to shears b means of a conve or and trimming'the sides of the plate, w ich consists in placing the shears'in position opposite each other with their cutting'planes at rightangles tothe dirfiction" of movement of the transfer table, a

ing the shears to the desired width of plate to be cut, carrying the plate by the transfer table to. a position in line with the shear knives whlle supporting the plate in araised position above the conveyor, lowering the plate upon the conveyor, engaging andhold- 1 115. arated points for transfer by the conveyor ing the plate by the conveyor at widely sepso as to maintainthe alignmentof the plate,

transferring the plate by the conveyor to the shears taking an initialcut .by both of the shears and advancing the plate by [the conveyor to a new plate position at which a succeeding cutis taken by the shears.

10. The method of handling heavy plate from a transfer table to two shears having reciprocating knives, by ,means of a com veyor, and trimming the sides of theplate,

which consists in placing the shears in osltlon opposite each other with their cutting planes at' rightang'les to the direction of transfer table, adjusting movement of the I v the shears to the desired width of plate to be cut, carryin the plate to a position in line with the shear ives while maintaining it in relatively raised position, lowering the plate to deposit it upon the conveyor, engaging and holding the plate by the conveyor at widely separated points for transfer by the convey- I or so as to maintain the alignment of the plate and transferring the plate by the conveyor to the shears.

11. The method of holding heavy plate and of cutting it by shears, which consists in bringing the plate into alignment with the shears, in feeding the plate, in concurrently shearing both sides of the plate and in subsequently feeding the plate into position for a second cut on both sides while constantly position for a second cut on both sides while constantly maintaining its alignment.

13. The method of feeding heavy metal plate by mechanism and of cutting it by reciprocating shears, which "consists inprogr'essively and recurrently cutting both sides of the plate simultaneously, stopping the I plate for each-cut, feeding the plate between the cuts and holdingv it bothwhile feeding and while cutting by the feeding mechanism.

14. The method of feeding heavy metal plate by mechanism. and of cutting it by reciprocating shears, which consists in rogressively and recurrently cutting both sides of theplate simultaneously, lifting the plate after each cut, feeding it between the cuts and maintaining the hold of the feeding mechanism throughout the operations.

15. The method of cutting heavy metal plate by reciprocating shears, which consists in progressively and recurrently feeding the plate, cutting both sides of it simultaneously, stopping the late for each cut,.an'd mechanically ma-intalning the alignment of the plate during the successive feedings for the cuts and during the cutting operations.

16. The method ofshearing heavy metal plate by two shears having reciprocating knives operated by hfdraulic'cylinders fed from other cylinders which consists inplacing the two shears in opposite positions .to operate upon opposite sides of the plate, adjusting their distance of separation to correspond with the intended width of the plate, feeding the plate between the shears lengthwise of the shear knives while maintaining their alignment by the grip and guide of the feed and synchronizing the cutting process by supplying thecylinders of the two shears with fluid from difierent cylinders of the same source of pressure to cause them to cut simultaneously upon the plate.

17. The method of shearing plates of heavymetal by hydraulic shears fed from separate cylinders, which consists in placing the shears in opposite positions to operate upon opposite sides of the plate, ad usting their distance of separation to correspond with the intended width of the plate, feeding the plate between the shears lengthwise 0f the shear knives while maintaining their align.- ment by the grip and guide of the feed, and synchronizing the method by supplying the operating cylinders of the two shears with fluid from different cylinders of the same source of pressure to cause them to cut simultaneously upon the plate, advancing the plate while guiding it to maintain its alignment and subsequently cutting theplate by the two shears in line with thefirst cuts. t a 18,. The method of handling heavy metal plates upon tables by a conveyor and operating upon them by heavy duty reciprocatingtools which consists in transferring the plates into approximate alignment with the conveyor, alignin the plates at the conveyor, gripping t e plates andtransferring them into position for concurrent operation at opposite edges by oppositely facing reciprocating tools and operating upon the two edges concurrently 'while'the conveyor retains its hold upon the plates.

19. The method of handling heavy metal 'plates upon tables by a conveyor and operating upon them by op ositely facing heavy duty reciprocating too s whlch consists in transferring the plates into approximate alignment with the conveyor, aligning the plates at the conveyor, engaging and holding the plates by means of the conveyor and transferring them into position for concurrent operation at opposite edges by the oppositely facing reciprocating tools, operating upon the ,twosides concurrently while the conveyor retains its hold upon the plates, advancing the plates by the conveyor into position for a second operation by the tools and operating upon the plate in the new position, retaining the alignment by the conveyor between operations.

20. The method of handling heavy metal plates upon tables by a conveyor and operating upon them by end shears and oppositely facing heavy duty reciprocating tools which consists in transferring the plates upon the tables through shears. trimming the ends by the shears, transferring the of movement of the plate, aligning and ad-- plates in the same general direction of their justing the plate, engaging and holding the plate by the conveyor, transferring the plate by the conveyor into a position between heavy duty tools and operating upon it by the tools while holding itby the conveyor.

21. The method of handling a heavy metal plate upon tables by a conveyor and operating upon it by end trimming shears and oppositely facing concurrent reciproeating shears with progression of the plate lengthwise between the shears which consists in carrying the plate to the end-trimming shears, trimming the ends by' trim-:

mi'ng shears, transferring ,the plate length wise from the shears into approximate alignment and position for engagement by a conveyor having movement lengthwise of l the plate, aligning and positioning the plate and operating upon it M ferr sides y the edge-cutting shears and be-- plate, engaging and holding the plate by the conveyor, carrying the plate by the conveyor between the reciprocating shears, operating upon it on opposite sides by the shears while holding it by the conveyor and advancing the plate by the conveyor into shears, l operating the shears con currentli-2B. The "method\ oipgngeyor handling and maintaining the alignment while trans the plate to and openating upon its tween successive cuts of theseshears.

23. The .method of conveyor handling heavy metal plates and shearingat the ends and edges of the plates by reciprocating shears to size "perpendicularly to each other, which consists in transferring the plate from the mill-intoposition for operation along opposite edges by the-shears spaced to'size, aigningthe plate inposition for operation by the shears, operating concurrently upon the plate at opposite edges, transferring the plate into position for engagement by a con- :veyor operating perpendicularly to the edges @fot' the plate which have been cut, engaging and holding the plate bythe conveyor, trans- .7 fcrringjtlie plate by the conveyor intoposition for operation upon the intermediate opposite edges by shears placed so as to face oppositely and adjusted to size and concurrently cutting these intermediate opposite edges ofthe plate by the shears.

24. The method of conveyor handling heavy metal plate to cut to size and square the ends and sides of the plate by oppo-- sitely facing reciprocating shears, which consists in transferring the plate into position for operation along opposite edges,

spacing the shears to size, aligning the plate in position for engagement by the shears,

operating concurrently upon the plate at ring the plate by the conveyor into position for operation upon the other opposite edges by other oppositely facing reciprocating 'Shears spaced to size and concurrently cutting the .intermediate opposite edges of the plate by the reciprocating shears, the cutting of one of the sets of opposite edges being by successive cuts concurrently upon the two edges and the alignment being maintained between the cuts by operation of the conveyor. V u '1 25. The method of conveyor handling heavy metal plate and cutting to size and squaring the ends and sides of thefplate, which consists in feeding a plate into position for cutting opposite edges,-aligning it, concurrently cutting the edges, carrying the plate parallel to the edges cut to an intermediate point by one conveyor, engaging the plate at the intermediate point by a sec- 7 0nd conveyor, carrying the plate at right anglesto the edges cut by the second con- .veyor nto position for cutting the intermediate oppos1teedges while malntainingits alignment and concurrently cutting these I last named opposite edges.

heavy metal plate and cutting and squarlng the edges .of t-he plate, which conslsts in feeding a plate into position for cutting opposite edges, aligning it, concurrently cutting the edges, carrying the plate by a conveyor parallel to the edges cut to an intermediate point, engaging the plate at the intermediate point andmar in it by the' second conveyor at right angles to efedgcs maintaining its alignment and into position for cutting the other opposite edges of the plate and concurrently cutting said other opposite edges.

' 2 8, The method of conveyor handling heavy metalfplateand cutting and squaring the edges of the plate by reciprocating shears, which consists in concurrently cutting edges of a'plate to size, lifting the plate fromabove and movingit into the line 

